On October 2nd, 2012 the Ukrainian parliament has adopted in its 1st reading the law that bans public mentioning of sexual orientation or gender identity, the same way as it had happened earlier in some Russian regions. Unlike its Russian version, the Ukrainian draft-law imposes criminal as well as civil liability for "homopropaganda". Persons guilty of homopropaganda to be fined (up to 300 minimal incomes) and even sentenced (up to 5 years).

The draft-law #8711 is the first out of three analogue documents proposed to be considered by the Supreme Rada (Parliament). The EU parliament has strongly denounced that legislature noting it violated Ukraine's commitment to guarantee freedom of speech according to the European Convention on Human Rights and Int'l Pact on Civil and Political Freedoms.

The EU parliament deputy Ulrike Lunacek said: "Ukraine opposed itself with the whole Europe. That draft-law is not only a regressive, it is absolutely anti-democratic and is exceptionally based on prejudice. Moreover, it ignores the international law and international obligations of Ukraine. I was expecting something better from my Ukrainian colleagues but during the pre-election period it is very easy to gain cheap points due to the hunt for the LGBT community".

Uri Rosenthal, the Netherlands' Foreign Minister, answering the question of GroenLinks Party, said if Ukraine would enforce that law then the issue of visa facilitation procedure between the EU and Ukraine would be postponed on indefinite period of time.

Deputy Sofia Intveld added: "Instead of moving toward Europe, Ukraine makes a big step backward against European values. No country that limits freedom of speech and the rights of LGBT people might believe it would still stay in European family. I'm enraged with Ukraine's decision to attack on the discriminated minority, deny freedom of speech to LGBT and I hope that the PACE together with the Council of Europe's Ministers Committee will definitely and inflexibly condemn that move".

In her letter to activists of the Ukrainian organization Gay Alliance, Marije Cornelissen, deputy of European parliament, wrote: "What bad news! I wished the draft would be postponed for time indefinite and very surprised with its speedy voting. You should keep in mind my letter which I sent to Ukraine's deputies last spring with Holland's foreign minister's statement on this draft and how it comes into conflict with the requirements for visa regime facilitation between Ukraine and the EU. This move means that Ukraine will not get visa waiver if accepts that law. I'll do everything to have Stefan Flue, EU Commissioner on enlargement issues and European neighboring policy, made such a statement. We seek to attract the attention of other foreign ministers to this issue".

Eugene Tsarkov

Eugene Tsarkov, member of Communist party in the Ukraine's Parliament, co-author of that scandal draft-law, in his interview for Obozrevatel (Observer) said the draft-law against homopropaganda was necessary to stop homosexuality's spreading over the country. "In the Parliament there are they (gays), you know that", revealed Tsarkov. "When behind the curtains I, in a temper, said to one of representatives of them why should we suffer their sexual minority. He said that you soon would become a minority. "You" meant homophobes and traditionalists. Frankly speaking, homosexualists did not do any bad for me. But I do not want that we (traditionalists) soon become a minority".

Traditionalist Tsarkov considers gays as ill people who must have the right to choose their lifestyle. "It is up to them if they do not want to have a complete family, children. But I think it is not a misfortune, it is a grief to the family, especially for their parents. A person faced with that grief and lives with it, it is his personal matter. But they begin to propagandize homosexuality through children! And then these children join the Charter of Sodom and Homorrha!!", frightens Tsarkov.

At the same time he understands that his draft does not comply with the norms of all countries. "Yes, it does not comply with all European norms, but not all of them are right. Why should we follow it? Maybe you want Ukraine to follow a proposal of one Spanish town to get free of traditionalists and to be a city for gays and lesbians?! Exceptionally for these reasons we wrote that draft-law - to protect our traditionalist society".

"Anyway, we definitely will take into account all observations and wishes. Now we discuss this draft with everybody in order to exclude enforcement of this law in some repressive cases against journalists as well as the society", promises Tsarkov.

To become a law this draft must be backed in its second reading and signed by the president. On October 28, 2012 Ukraine will hold parliamentary elections and that fact explains the main cause of this homophobic populist hysteria.